2014 Kia Forte
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 442 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 16 Forte model years with reports.
Of the 2014 reports, 32 involved a crash and 36 involved a fire. 29 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
EngineDec 2, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage vehicles. An engine compartment fire can occur while driving.
An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine compartment for fuel and/or engine oil leaks, perform an engine test and make any repairs, including engine replacement, as necessary, free of charge. In addition, Kia dealers will update the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC200.
Campaign 20V750000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, pedals and linkagesDec 1, 2017
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Forte and Forte Koup vehicles. The brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate allowing the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released. This will allow the brake lights to remain illuminated continuously. It can also allow the shift lever to be moved without depressing the brake pedal, or activate the engine management brake pedal override feature.
If the brake light switch plunger does not retract as it should when the brake pedal is not being pressed, the brake lights may stay illuminated preventing accurate communication to following vehicles that the vehicle is slowing or stopping. Additionally, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, then the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal stopper pad, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 30, 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC158.
Campaign 17V773000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical systemJan 16, 2015
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014 Kia Forte vehicles manufactured December 5, 2012, to April 17, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the cooling fan resistor may overheat and melt.
If the cooling fan resistor overheats and melts, there is an increased risk of a vehicle fire.
Kia will notify owners, and for vehicles produced from December 5, 2012 to January 27, 2014, dealers will replace the cooling fan resistor and multi-fuse unit. For vehicles produced from January 28, 2014 to April 17, 2014, dealers will replace the multi-fuse unit only. Owners of vehicles with a 1.8L engine will also have the engine control unit software updated. The recall began on February 20, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC113.
Campaign 15V015000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
63 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Service brakes, Engine, Jun 12, 2018, crash
MY DAUGHTER HAD A CAR CRASH ON JULY 22, 2017 DUE TO BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN TUSCALOOSA, AL AND THERE WERE NO OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD THANK GOD. HER CAR HYDROPLANED AND HIT A RAILING. SHE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. UNKNOWN ABOUT THE FAULT OR PROBLEM THAT CREATED THE UNSAFE CONDITION. HER CAR IS AT A BODY SHOP IN ALABAMA SO I WILL OBTAIN REPAIR INVOICES AND POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MY DAUGHTER DOES NOT HAVE CAR INSURANCE.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 11, 2018, crash
ON SATURDAY MARCH 26TH, 2018 I WSS DRIVING NORTH BOUND ON I471 IN KENTUCKY. DOING ABOUT 50-55 MPH WHILE IT WAS SNOWING/SLEETING OUTSIDE. AS I WAS TRAVELING ANOTHER VEHICLE SWERVED OVER TO GET IN EXIT LANE WHILE AT SAME TIME ON A RIGHT TURN AROUND EXIT LANE. ONCE CAR DID SO, I HAD TO PRESS HARD, SLAM ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID BEING CLIPPED BY OTHER VEHICLE. AS I DID THIS I BEGAN TO SPIN NOR, THE ESC OR TRACTION CONTROL TOOK OVER AND I SPUN OUT OF CONTROL STRIKING GUARD RAIL AT UNKNOWN SPEED. I WAS UNINJURED, HOWEVER AS U CAN SEE LOTS OF DAMAGE TO FRONT AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I CONTACTED KIA RIGHT AWAY DO TO THE RECENT RECALLING BRAKE STOP PEDAL. I TOOK PICTURES THEY REQUIRED ANDCS3NT THEM AS, TOO THEY WERE CONCERNED OF NON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THEY DETERMINED VIA AN ENGINEER WITH IN THEIR DEPT. JUST BY LOOKING AT PHOTO'S THAT AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. SO, MY ISSUE WITH THIS IS THEY ARE MAKING A DETERMINATION BY NOT PHYSICALLY HAVING VEHICLE DAMAGE TO MAKE ASSUMPTION AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. UPON LOOKING AT OTHER COMPLAINTS ON HERE ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS MINE. THIS MAYBE A CONCERN GOING FORWARD. I HAVE GIVEN SAID AUTOMAKER TO HELP WITH REPAIRS FROM ACCIDENT. AND THEY SEEM TO TRYING TO AVOID THESE PROBLEMS WITH SAID VEHICLE.
Air bags, Mar 28, 2018, crash
I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHERE A CAR HIT HIT ME BEHIND AND PUSHED MY CAR INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER CAR CAUSING THE FRONT SMASHED BOO INPACT AND BAG DIDN'T COME OUT ON EITHER SIDE. MY CAR WAS A DEAD STOP BEFORE THE INPACT FROM BEHIND ON A EXISTING TO A OFF RAMP ON THE INTERSTATE.
Air bags, Seats, Mar 20, 2018, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA FORTE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
Air bags, Mar 18, 2018
DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A MONTH AGO AT SAM'S CLUB IN FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA. I WENT TO 3 KIA DEALERSHIPS AND WAS TOLD I HAD TO PAY $150 JUST TO TEST IT. I DIDNT HAVE THE MONEY, BUT NOW THE LIGHT JUST STAYS LIT. ALL OF THESE DEALERSHIPS ARE HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. I HAD MY BRAKES REPAIRED ON FEBRUARY 21, AND THE AUTO SHOP TRIED TO ATTACH A DIAGNOSTICS MACHINE TO IT, BUT THIS SYSTEM IS SET SO THAT ONLY KIA CAN DIAGNOSE IT.
Electrical system, Air bags, Jan 29, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA FORTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE BEING DRIVEN LOW SPEEDS. VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL OPERABLE AFTER A MANUAL RESTART. FREDY KIA (11711 GULF FWY, HOUSTON, TX) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000.
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Dec 8, 2016, crash
TAKATA RECALL NEEDS TO RECALL THE BREAKS ON THE 2014 KIA FORTE. ON NOVEMEBER 21ST 2016 I TOTALLED MY KIA DUE TO FAILURE OF MANAFACURER BREAKS THEY DIDNT STOP ME AND I REAR ENDED A CAR WHICH HOT ANOTHER THAT HIT ANOTHER. THE SPEED CONTROL ON THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL I BEARLY PUSH ON FHE GAS AND IT ZOOMED OFF T WENT FROM 0-30 REALLY QUICK. DURRING THE WRECK I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH WHICH WHEN I HIT THE CAR DUE TO THE BREAKS FAILING MY CAR BOUCED OFF OF IT AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE ROAD WAS DRY IT WAS DARK OUTSIDE OT WAS 5:58 AM AND VERY CLEAR OUTSIDE. THE ROADS WERE VERY DRY NOT SLICK AT ALLL MY CAR JOLTED AS THE BREAKS TRIED TO STOP ME BUT THEY NEVER ATOPPED ME. IT WAS ON A BACK ROAD HEADING TO TAKE MY HUSBAND TO WORK.
Air bags, Sep 15, 2016, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ORDERED THE CONTACT NOT TO LET ANYONE TOUCH THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS EXAMINED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Air bags, Aug 31, 2016, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA FORTE. WHILE MAKING A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Air bags, Dec 21, 2015, crash
AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONT-END COLLISION.
Air bags, Oct 6, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA FORTE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO FLIP OVER AND CRASH INTO A DIRT HILL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR HEAD INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
Air bags, May 18, 2014, crash
I TOTALED MY CAR BY HYDROPLANING INTO A GUARDRAIL AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *JS
Air bags, Apr 8, 2014, crash
I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH A MAN RAN A RED LIGHT AS I WAS GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. HE HIT MY CAR RIGHT AT THE "HINGE" OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND HIT ME INTO THE CAR NEXT TO ME. MY SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND HE HIT ME GOING 35 MPH. THIS IS NOT COOL, IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THIS? MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS MUCH AS I LOVED MY KIA, WHICH I ONLY HAD FOR 7 MONTHS, NOT SURE I WANT TO BUY ANOTHER. *TR...UPDATED 06-16-15 **BF UPDADTED 9/18/15*JS